Site Purpose

Lia Steinberg studies broadcast journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. This website was created to share her experiences exploring the world of geocaching as a college student, and to provide helpful hints and tips on how to have a pleasant and fulfilling geocaching experience.

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archive for the ‘Tips and Advice’ Category

It’s always a joy to find a geocache, but sometimes the container can become repetitive or ordinary. When I discover a geocache in a unique container, the experience becomes more memorable instantly. They are the kind of finds that I like to tell my friends and family about and I love when I find them unexpectedly. Creative containers don’t have to be complex and difficult to hide. Today I’ll share with you some creative ideas for creating containers at home, or where you can pick one up for cheap.

I found this creative cache container at my local REI store, and I think it is the perfect container for those who are looking for a container that is both sturdy and unique. I hid one myself and it has lasted through heavy weather conditions. It blends in perfectly with most environments and is a fun treat to find!

If you don’t have the cash to buy a cache, you can easily make one at home! Just drill a hole into anything you think would make a good container (does it blend in well with the environment? will it protect the log from storms?) and seal it up! That’s it!

Want to see the most creative cache I’ve found so far?

I found this one when I was visiting family in Tampa, FL. The GPS took me to an old shed located next to a baseball field. The size of the container was not specified the hint was “not a glue.” As I was searching near an electrical box, I noticed a pipe coming from the ground with a gardening hose attached. I pulled the pipe right up from the ground and found the cache inside. So clever!

Do you make and hide creative caches? What is the most creative cache you have found? Leave a comment and let me know!

Advertisements

Share this:

Like this:

Plan on spending the entire day geocaching? You might need more than a GPS to have a successful trip. It can be a rough experience being outside all day in the sun, jumping from rock to rock, or climbing over tough terrain. I know there have been many occasions when I was geocaching and I did not enjoy my adventure because I forgot to bring an important tool or article of clothing with me. Geocaching can be dangerous if you’re not prepared.

A backpack to carry all of your items is vital. I chose this backpack because it is large enough to hold multiple items and it appropriately blends in with nature. It also has many side pockets which makes it easier to organize your belongings.

Staying out of the sun is important for your skin and your overall health. Your body will thank you later in life when you wear a hat with a visor (shown above) and plenty of sunscreen. Apply the sunscreen multiple times during the day so you’ll stay protected and skin cancer free! Sunglasses are a plus if you need some extra protection.

Heavy duty sneakers or boots are essential if you plan on exploring outdoors. Shoes with arch support will support your back after a long day of bending and climbing. And speaking of climbing – bringing a first aid kit with you in case you fall and hurt yourself can come in handy. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Some other bonus essentials include a flashlight in case it gets dark sooner than you expected, a pen to sign the logbooks inside the geocaches, tweezers for extracting geocaches from difficult to reach areas, and a watch to keep track of time.

Last but certainly not least – drink plenty of water! Water will hydrate your body so you can have the energy to be outside all day and not feel dehydrated.

Geocaching with a friend is the safest way to explore, but if you decide to go alone, always tell someone where you are going and bring a cell phone in case of an emergency.

Share this:

Like this:

Admit it: We’ve all searched for geocaches high and low and cannot seem to close the find. Finally, you zero in on the cache and say to yourself, “Why didn’t I look there in the first place?”

Don’t fret! There are some precautions you can take to to assure yourself that you are looking in the right location.

If possible, do not rely on only one GPS device. If you have two or three GPS-enabled devices, they will all give you a better estimate on where the geocache is hiding. Remember, GPS devices are more accurate when you are in motion (walking, bicycling, etc.). If you stand still and stare at the screen, you’ll find your compass jumping in different directions. Nowadays, many smart phone devices provide applications for geocaching, which can be helpful if your GPS is not cooperating.

Pretend you are the hider. If you were the cache owner, where would you hide it? Often times, you’d be surprised how obvious this might be. If you stop and look at the surrounding area, look for a clue that might be suspicious. This might be a pile of rocks, a small path of footprints, or a point of reference in a prominent area.

Communicate with previous finders. If you know you will be looking for a difficult cache, it might be beneficial to talk to geocachers who have already located the cache. They don’t have to spoil the fun, but they can provide some insightful hints to help you find it.

Still can’t find it?

If you were unable to locate the geocache, there is a possibility it may have disappeared. It is important to notify the owner on the cache website if you did not find the cache because it will help the owner decide if they need to go check on it and replace it if needed.

I’m curious, though. Do you log a ‘Did Not Find’ on the website if you couldn’t locate it?

Like this:

If you live in a high-populated city, it’s likely that urban geocaches are up your alley. However, if you live in a small, secluded town, most geocaches are found deep in the forest or on mountain trails. There are specific containers, terrains, and creativity that comes with either an urban or a nature cache and there are specific clues that you should look for during your hunt.

ErikaJean

The Urban Cache:

Usually a small container

Sometimes can be magnetic that is attached to electrical boxes, fences, or road signs

Blends in very well with its environment

You must act natural during the hunt so non-geocachers don’t think you’re up to something suspicious

Usually found in parking lots, public parks or near buildings

The Nature Cache:

A cache found deep in the forest of Clear Creek, PA.

Usually a larger container

Mostly found under a pile of rocks or in a tree

Do not have to worry about “muggles” or non-geocachers

Brings you to a beautiful or interesting place

After gaining some experience with finding urban and nature geocaches, it will become easier to decide what kind of finds you enjoy or which ones you find more difficult.

For more information on geocache containers, or if you are interested in buying a custom geocache container, you can visit the Cache Box Store .

What do you think?

Which kind of geocaching do you prefer to hunt? Which kind of geocaching is more challenging to you? Leave a comment and let me know!

Share this:

Like this:

In the geocaching world, acronyms are used online to describe a geocaching experience, issue or suggestion to the cache owner. As a beginner, there will be terms that you might be unaware of. It is crucial to learn these terms because they can help immensely when you want to look up information on a specific cache you’re looking for.

Basic Geocaching Acronyms:

BYOP– Bring your own Pen/Pencil. Some micro geocaches are too small to store a writing utensil and will be helpful to bring one with you to sign the logbook inside of the cache.

DNF– Did Not Find. If a geocacher could not find the geocache, they will write this acronym on the cache site to alert the cache owner that it may have disappeared.

FTF– First To Find. When a new geocache is submitted online, geocachers compete to see who can find the geocache first and be the first person to sign the log. Sometimes, the cache owner will leave money in the cache and whoever finds it first will take the money.

Muggle– A non-geocacher.

TFTC– Thanks For The Cache. This common acronym is used when geocachers log their find.

Geocaches are everywhere. We probably walk by them everyday without even knowing they exist. In my opinion, they serve one important purpose: To stop and realize the little things in life.

When I go geocaching, there are a few things I keep in mind:

1. Don’t look obvious. Wandering around aimlessly with a GPS in front of your face can make you look suspicious to non-geocachers (aka “Muggles”). If you’re searching in a high-populated area, you must be stealthy and act natural.

2. It’s not about what you find. The trinkets and logbook that are stashed inside a geocache are fun to look at, but that’s not the reason I enjoy geocaching. It’s about the thrill of hunting for buried treasure, and the satisfaction of the find.

3. Relax and enjoy your surroundings. Geocaching is meant to share beautiful,scenic views with others who want to experience your favorite places. After finding the cache you’ve worked hard to find, take a moment to look around and enjoy the destination.

A geocache in Butler, PA

New to Geocaching?

Here are some things you’ll need:

A pen or pencil to sign logbooks

Sneakers

Plenty of water

Trade items to leave inside a geocache

That’s it! So what are you waiting for? Get outside and start exploring!

What do you think?

What items do you bring when you go geocaching? Leave a comment and let me know!